Exceptional Circumstances
During the course of your degree programme you might be faced with situations or difficulties that are outside your control and negatively affect your academic performance. These are known as 'exceptional circumstances'. (Please note: These were called 'Extenuating Circumstances' up to the academic year 2021-22, at which point the name was changed).
You can submit an Exceptional Circumstances request if you feel that these situations or difficulties have negatively affected, or will affect, your ability to complete coursework, to attend classes or to prepare for and/or sit your exams. Through this process you will be able to request, for example, a coursework deadline extension or apply for a deferred exam (if you are unable to sit the exam during the regular scheduled time) due to exceptional circumstances.
You are strongly advised to discuss any circumstances that are affecting you with your Academic Tutor or School Director of Academic Tutoring, Student Support Coordinator (or Henley Helpdesk or ILSI Admin Office), or Reading Students' Union Academic Advisor first. We encourage you to utilise all support in place to assist with your studies and exams before submitting an Exceptional Circumstances form.
We are committed to providing a support package for our students which provides flexibility while also ensuring that assessment is fair, academic attainment is recognised and specific impacts experienced by individuals are mitigated. As part of our assessment support package, we are providing an enhanced Exceptional Circumstances process with the following features:
- Post Results Exceptional Circumstances (PREC) form – this provision supports students who believe that their performance in examinations has been affected by an exceptional circumstance in the Summer Term or Resit Period or if they have missed one or more examinations due to an exceptional circumstance. You can submit a Post Results Exceptional Circumstances (PREC) form following publication of your results. To submit a PREC form login to the RISIS Portal - Open the ‘Actions’ tab, then select ‘Post Results Exceptional Circumstances' from the list. More information about PREC, including submission deadlines, can be found in the FAQs list below.
- Self-certification - this provision supports students affected by short-term unexpected illness or disruption to their studies. Self-certification allows you the opportunity and responsibility to submit a claim for a five working day extension, in appropriate circumstances, without the need to provide evidence. On the self-certification request form, assessments will be available to select from two working days prior to the original coursework deadline and until two working days afterwards - more details on self-certification.
See the latest Exceptional Circumstance Policy. Please refresh your browser to ensure you have the latest version if returning to this page.
Full details of the current appeals process can be found in the sections below.
If you are a postgraduate research, University of Reading Malaysia, NUIST-based, Study Abroad or HBS Greenlands student please contact your support staff or school for information on how to submit an Exceptional Circumstance request.
Questions you may have about the exceptional circumstances and the process: